Cosy up your home this Autumn

A first step to combating heat loss is to make sure your windows and doors are in good repair. Remove and replace old caulking and install draft excluders to ensure an effective seal. Self-adhesive foam strips can help fill gaps in the edges of windows but metal strips with brushes attached are more effective. They cost a little more but the results last much longer and they can also be used around the hinges and frames of doors. Whatever solution you opt for, creating an effective seal will prevent hot and cold air from entering or leaving a room as well as eliminate drafts that can give thermostats a false reading.

But what else can you do to improve energy efficiency in your home without going to the expense of double or secondary glazing? The answer (of course!) is to invest in some good quality curtains or blinds. We’ve said before that they do so much more than dress a window and ‘finish’ a room; choosing the right type of curtains or blinds is one of the best ways to protect your home from heat loss and save you money during the winter months.

So what sort of curtains should you opt for? Here are a few tips:

Finally, energy efficient curtains serve an invaluable function in warmer weather too. It’s hard to imagine at the moment but during the summer heat, they can be closed during the day, before the sun shines directly onto the windows to block heat from entering our homes. This keeps the air inside at a comfortable temperature and significantly reduces the expense of cooling a room. So, there’ll be no need to take down your beautiful wool or flax curtains when Spring comes around again.

Start designing some energy-saving curtains today…